U.S. Navy Nurse Corps

[DRman76]

Hello. This is my first time on this website. I am pretty impressed.
I am on here to ask anyone on specific specialties in Navy Nursing.
Which is field or specialty is in high demand in Navy Nursing?
-anesthesia
-surgery
-critical care
-general
-cardiac
etc.
If I have left any out, please let me know. I am aware that the needs of the navy change and the forcasting maybe hard to tell.

A little about myself, I am not an RN yet. I have a long way to go. I am certified firefighter currently in EMT school. I will go into Paramedic school. Then, on my own time I apply for a transitional nursing program to get a ASN. Finally, apply for a nursing program to earn a BSN. I am aware that is the degree requirement for the Navy Nurse Corps. I already have Bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
I am not looking to join the Active Duty Navy but the Reserves so I can do both the Firefighting and nursing (civilian and military).
Thanks

[SoldierNurse]

Hello. This is my first time on this website. I am pretty impressed.
I am on here to ask anyone on specific specialties in Navy Nursing.
Which is field or specialty is in high demand in Navy Nursing?
-anesthesia
-surgery
-critical care
-general
-cardiac
etc.
If I have left any out, please let me know. I am aware that the needs of the navy change and the forcasting maybe hard to tell.

A little about myself, I am not an RN yet. I have a long way to go. I am certified firefighter currently in EMT school. I will go into Paramedic school. Then, on my own time I apply for a transitional nursing program to get a ASN. Finally, apply for a nursing program to earn a BSN. I am aware that is the degree requirement for the Navy Nurse Corps. I already have Bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
I am not looking to join the Active Duty Navy but the Reserves so I can do both the Firefighting and nursing (civilian and military).
Thanks

FYI; The Military Reserves is no longer a one weekend per month / two weeks out of the year duty. The Reserves & Guard are being activated/mobilized now more than any other time in American histroy.

[mstngrn]

Hello. This is my first time on this website. I am pretty impressed.
I am on here to ask anyone on specific specialties in Navy Nursing.
Which is field or specialty is in high demand in Navy Nursing?
-anesthesia
-surgery
-critical care
-general
-cardiac
etc.
If I have left any out, please let me know. I am aware that the needs of the navy change and the forcasting maybe hard to tell.

A little about myself, I am not an RN yet. I have a long way to go. I am certified firefighter currently in EMT school. I will go into Paramedic school. Then, on my own time I apply for a transitional nursing program to get a ASN. Finally, apply for a nursing program to earn a BSN. I am aware that is the degree requirement for the Navy Nurse Corps. I already have Bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
I am not looking to join the Active Duty Navy but the Reserves so I can do both the Firefighting and nursing (civilian and military).
Thanks

Anything in the specialty fields are in high demand in the Navy. As a nurse with a BS in an unrelated field, if you get your AS in nursing and pass the NCLEX exam I think you can apply to the Navy Nurse Corps without a BSN. You may want to check that out. If you want, I am willing to check it out through my connections. I used to teach Hospital Corpsman A School when I was a Navy Nurse and did much career type research in students that wanted to get commissions.

I can tell you of all the specialties you listed the one that will guarentee big bucks in the end is CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesia provider). They are in great demand as there aren't enough of them anywhere. Currently I work as a Peri-Operative Services manager and know just how difficult it is to find good anesthesia people. They make around $200,000/year depending on how many cases they do. Check it out by researching salary.com or the US Labor website. To attend anesthesia school you will need critical care experience. The Navy will put you through the school but to get selected is very competitive. But not unattainable. I have several friends that have selected this route. None of them regretted their decision.

Feel free to write me if you want more info. I did 20 years in the Navy and enjoyed every minute of it.

Kind Regards,
Mary

[rn1964]

You may not join the USN NC without a BSN... the USA NC (Army) takes ADN as a WO I believe but you will not be an Army NC Officer. Minimum is BSN for military NC Officer... thank God. (and that still doesn't mean you'll get a nurse who knows anything)....

[Marcados]

I am currently a nursing informaticist. Is there anything available in the Naval nursing reserve core for this field?

[mehelena]

I am currently a nursing informaticist. Is there anything available in the Naval nursing reserve core for this field?

Good question...I don't know the answer, but there's a Navy Healthcare page on Facebook that you can talk to Navy nurses. Here is the link if you're interested. http://tinyurl.com/USNavyHealthcare

Hope that helps =)

[torah1rn]

You may not join the USN NC without a BSN... the USA NC (Army) takes ADN as a WO I believe but you will not be an Army NC Officer. Minimum is BSN for military NC Officer... thank God. (and that still doesn't mean you'll get a nurse who knows anything)....

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'm offended that your post implies that BSN prepared nurses are somehow better than ADN/AAS nurses. I am an AAS nurse with a BS in another science. I looked into doing a second BS degree, but found that it would take longer and the only major difference between a BSN and AAS are the general education requirements and the denotation of 200 level courses because community colleges can't designate courses as being 300 or 400 level by the nature of the institution although all the same information is covered. The only other major difference I found was that there were more research and management based courses in the BSN program. But as far as entry into nursing and being a good nurse, a BSN is not required. Like anything else in this country, it is best to have a BS or BA in something. In healthcare, I would go for the BS everytime. I don't know the ends and outs of military. Those people have responded. But I think I would take some of that with a grain of salt. My understanding was that any Bachelor's prepared individual qualifies to be an officer. Perhaps there are differences amongst the branches. But I wouldn't let that discourage you. Check into more thoroughly. In this day and age they may make some exceptions.

[SoldierNurse]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'm offended that your post implies that BSN prepared nurses are somehow better than ADN/AAS nurses. I am an AAS nurse with a BS in another science. I looked into doing a second BS degree, but found that it would take longer and the only major difference between a BSN and AAS are the general education requirements and the denotation of 200 level courses because community colleges can't designate courses as being 300 or 400 level by the nature of the institution although all the same information is covered. The only other major difference I found was that there were more research and management based courses in the BSN program. But as far as entry into nursing and being a good nurse, a BSN is not required. Like anything else in this country, it is best to have a BS or BA in something. In healthcare, I would go for the BS everytime. I don't know the ends and outs of military. Those people have responded. But I think I would take some of that with a grain of salt. My understanding was that any Bachelor's prepared individual qualifies to be an officer. Perhaps there are differences amongst the branches. But I wouldn't let that discourage you. Check into more thoroughly. In this day and age they may make some exceptions.

In the Army Nurse Corps, Regular Component must have a BSN, and Reserve Component can have ADN but BSN preferred.

[YNGRN]

Hey you guys i was wondering if any of you are Nurses in the Navy. I am looking to join in april and have a ton of questions. Thanks.

[jaclynrn]

Hi all...my name is Jackie and I will be graduating with my BSN in March of next year. I will be working in Critical Care and plan to stay there for at least 4 years in the civilian world...but then I want to join the Navy Nurse Corps and have help with my loan repayment and possibly an MSN (I'm only 25 now so I have plenty of time). My husband is currently active duty Navy and has completed 11 years thus far and plans to finish out his 20. So my questions are: Is anyone dual military and how do you handle that (we have 2 children who will be 5 and 8 by that time)? Can I get the Navy to send me to school for my MSN and be tuition free in exchange for years of service? Do I have to work while going to school for my MSN, or PhD for that matter? How often do nurses get deployed? Would I be able to work in ICU in the Navy or would I have to work wherever they want me even though I would have such great experience already (I also already live in San Diego really close to a large military hospital)? Ok...I think that's it for now...I'm just happy to have found this resource. Thanks in advance for any and all help!